Secrets of the Hearts

Kunwar Pratap opened his sleepy eyes to catch a glimpse of Ajabdeh. She was sitting on the chair in front of the dressing table, filling her hairline with the sindoor. She looked fresh and beautiful in the light of the dawn. He stared with a smile lingering on his lips. He did not get up or make her aware of his watchful eyes. Still, Ajabdeh seemed to feel his gaze on her as she blushed slightly before putting on her dupatta and walking into the Puja Room without looking at him, although fully aware that his eyes followed her.
 
He dressed up as she finished her puja, and he was heading out as she frowned. Usually, he waited to take Prasad and tell her the day's agenda. He stopped at the door, aware of her confusion.
 
" I am going to Ranima, I will be back to take Prasad and my Dagger. " He smiled, aware that he could read her mind, as she nodded, keeping her Thaal as she went to place his dagger, sword and brooch right where he needed them to be. He stepped into Ranima's puja Ghar to find Hansa Bai and Sajja Bai there as well.
" What happened, Kunwar Pratap? You are in my room at dawn?" Jaivanta asked. "Is everything..."
" Yes, Ranima, I am here for your permission." Hansa Bai and Sajja Bai exchanged glances.
" What Permission, Pratap?"
" When I was coming back, we met the Bhil Sardar, he invited me and Aja... Kunwaraniji" He stopped. Mind your tongue now, Pratap Singh! "Umm... they have Mata Bhavani puja at their village in the jungles, so they want me to..."
" Go on." Jaivanta Bai nodded. "A good relationship with the Bhils is always welcome." He agreed, "Take Ajabdeh too, she will like it. But be back quick, the forest is not safe."
He nodded, pleased, wished " Khamma Gani" to the ladies and walked away.

" Ajabdeh." Her hand stopped making the bed as she looked up. " Ji?"
" Umm... We are leaving in half an hour." He was unsure of whether she would be eager to go, especially after her last two experiences stepping out of the palace.
" Where ?" She asked, surprised.
" The Bhils had invited me to their Mata Bhavani Pujan, and Ranima feels it will be a politically good message if you come along." He made her agree, as he went on to tell her about how the Bhils had helped him during his exile with Ranima, how their society, although not very accepting of the Rana's rule, were friendly with the Sisodiyas. Things had changed slightly, creating tension during his father's reign, but the Bhils loved him, as one of their own, calling him Kika, which meant beloved son. He also told her stories of all the times he had asked the Bhils to help when Mewar was in danger, and they obliged. He also spoke of how he had learnt of their warfare and strategies in the jungle. Ajabdeh listened as she went about her chores, aware that most of what he shared was already known to her, not only because his mother often spoke of their time away from the palace but also because such gossip travelled through the palace grapevine into the royal families around the land. "Dress simply, because the road through the jungle is not safe for the royal procession, palanquin or royal dresses." She nodded, pleased. "We also don't want to project superiority by dressing in fineries." Ajabdeh was happy; she would finally get out of the heavy royal attire, even if it meant for a few hours.
 
Pratap was patting Sarang when Ajabdeh walked into the stable. She was wearing a maroon and yellow lehenga with simple embroidery and a maroon semi-transparent dupatta, with silver jewellery. He had changed into a simple white Angrakha with red borders. Her Payal made him turn as she approached him.
" I was coming to the gate of the Ranimahal." He said. " Why did you..."
" I... People will see... there..." He frowned slightly and then realised she did not want his sisters to see them ride together and then tease her. A smile curved his lips as he said, " Ayiye." She took his hand to get on the horse. They rode through the forest as Ajabdeh enjoyed the natural breeze and beauty of the Aravallis. His hands held the reins from both sides, and she sat in front of him. The faster Sarang ran, the more she closed her eyes and held his arm tightly. He smiled a little before taunting, " Someone told me riding a horse was part of warfare."
" People don't ride this fast in war," was a ready reply. He shook his head and smiled.
 
They reached the Bhil Village, where the people welcomed them with so much warmth. Ajabdeh was intrigued by the rituals, asked questions and participated wholeheartedly, impressing the Bhil women. Pratap observed how easily she blended with these women, so different in culture and stature from her.
" We have already accepted you as the king of Mewar, Baojiraj. The way you helped us and treated us as friends, no Rana did so after Shiladitya." The Bhil leader praised his love for the subjects. It was time for Ajabdeh to smile proudly.
" No", Kunwar Pratap protested, " I am here with you as a representative of Rana Udai Singh of Mewar. So, your actual friend is the throne of Mewar and not me." He was humble.
 
They had to begin their journey post-lunch at the Bhil Village to avoid the forest in the darkness. Ajabdeh had already made friends with the children who followed them for some time until Sarang started running. Ajabdeh kept waving at them as long as they were visible.
" They are nice people, warm and friendly." She concluded.
" Yes, at least they don't fake and pretend." He agreed.
 
" Kunwar Pratap!"
She seemed delighted, looking up at the sky all of a sudden. Before he could react, a downpour began. He stopped Sarang under the shade of a large tree. He got down, wiping himself as he heard Ajabdeh giggle. Wide-eyed, he stared at the scene. She was getting drenched in the rain. The dupatta had slipped a little on her head because of the wind, and she enjoyed the raindrops like a child at play. The forest clearing where they stood reminded Ajabdeh of home and the forests of Bhimlat. Ajabdeh felt free, in the rain, forgetting that a pair of eyes looked at this new side of her with surprise. His mature, formal, always perfect, composed wife was now a little girl, carefree in the rain. He walked out slowly, into the rain, towards her, as she turned around to find him standing so close, his eyes on her. Her smile disappeared in surprise, and her heart skipped a beat.
" You... Your... wounds.... will be... hurt... in.. the...the ..." She fumbled as she couldn't take her eyes off his, just by the way he looked at her.
" This is perfect." He spoke, making her look confused. " To finish what I left off." What does he mean? She looked a little shocked as he stepped forward, making her take a step back. Her heart seemed to jump to her throat.
 
" Ajab." He closed his eyes and breathed in before opening them and taking her left hand in his right one. The rain poured its shower of love on them as he continued, gathering his thoughts.
" You taught me that a king has no personal choices. Like Lord Ram, all his choices, his desires, and his wishes are for his people and his kingdom and not for himself. You also taught me the difference between a wife and a queen." Her throat felt dry as he continued.
" A king may have to make choices he doesn't personally approve of in life, for his country." She nodded in agreement as he smiled.
" But today, I want to make a new promise to you. You, Ajabdeh Punwar, will always be my wife, the only one I share my dreams, my happiness, my sorrows and life with. You are the one who will be my Ardhangini in every right, and no one can ever replace you. You are my Wife, my future queen, my everything. I respect you, I honour you. I..." He stopped seeing her cry. He smiled faintly as he hugged her, his head hidden in the nape of her neck as she held him tight and whispered to his ears.
 
" I... wanted to hear this, ever since I met you." Pleased with her admission, he held her tighter, before letting go and holding her hands, as foreheads touched. She moved back a step, saying, " The rain is stopping, let's get home before it gets dark." He nodded, whistling to Sarang. It was time to go home.
 
The jungle was slippery. Sarang, being just out of the war, was healing from injuries. Pratap decided to walk to the road where Sarang could run freely.
Ajabdeh walked ahead like she knew the jungles well. She shared the names of plants and flowers he had not heard of or seen. She spoke of their medicinal values.
" How do you know all these?" He asked, surprised.
" When I was small, I used to go to the Vaidji to learn astrology from him; he was good at it, and with that, I learnt..."
" You know astrology?" He asked, surprised as she nodded humbly, adding " A little bit."
 
" Don't move so far ahead, Ajabdeh, there are animals and dacoits in here." He warned.
" I have my Khanjar!" She flaunted as he smiled. He knew what she had was a husband she was sure of, to save her from any danger, be it an animal or a man.
" Ajabdeh! Careful!" He spoke in an alarming voice as she stopped to look around, then ran back to hide behind him, holding his hand in fear.
" Kun...Kun...Kunwar Pratap! What is it?" She asked, looking around. He couldn't control his laughter as she looked displeased.
" So brave of you, I wonder how you fought those men with me, now look at you!" He laughed.
" You scared me." She complained with a frown.
" I told you not to move ahead." He shrugged. Within a few seconds, Ajabdeh threw a handful of mud and grass at him. he had no idea when she picked them up so swiftly and ran through the clearing giggling.
 
"Stay." He gave Sarang a quick pat before brushing off the mud and grass and giving her a chase. She giggled as she ran through the bushes, but she was no match for him as he grabbed her by the wrist and cornered her against a tree trunk. They smiled breathlessly at each other as she tried to free her hand like a fierce lioness in vain. He stepped forward, his eyes on hers, when she realised she was against a tree trunk with no position to move as he held one hand while blocking her exit with another against the tree, leaning in slightly. Ajabdeh gulped. Is this it? She looked scared. He smiled at her scared face, reading her thoughts. No, not here, not now. Not until you... He raised his hand, releasing his grip on her, to adjust her maangtika back in position, then pushed back the strands of hair from her face. As his fingers travelled to her earlobes, she closed her eyes in anticipation as he smiled at her surrender.
" Chaliye, it's almost dusk." He moved back, whistling to Sarang as Ajabdeh stood flabbergasted and visibly embarrassed. She pulled her dupatta over her face, hoping he wouldn't catch her red face, but she knew that he knew her too well, as he smiled victoriously and teasingly.
 
They reached the palace to see people running about. One of the princesses ran to inform "Dadabhai! Bhabisa! Rajpurohit came. Padma Jija's wedding date is fixed." She ran as Kunwar Pratap smiled at Ajabdeh, who was very pleased.
" Ajabdeh," Ranima called as they walked up to her.
" You got wet!" Jaivanta Bai seemed worried. " Go get changed and meet me at the Rani Mahal Baithak. We have a lot to do, with the guests arriving from dawn tomorrow. "
" Yes, Ranima, I will be there soon." She nodded.
" I will go meet Daajiraj once to see if he needs anything." Kunwar Pratap walked away.
 
When he came back to his room, she had changed into a royal lehenga as he stared at her, wiping her wet hair. She stared at him through the reflection in the mirror. His stare made her blush when their eyes met.
" You are still wet." She said softly as he walked up behind her. " Change."
" Yes." He walked towards the other room, but he stopped and turned around. " Ajabdeh."
" Ji?" She looked up as she put the dupatta on her head.
" It was a good day." He smiled as she blushed, agreeing with a nod, and he moved toward her. " But something... is incomplete."
" Incomplete?" She looked wide-eyed.
" Yes, I told you everything I wanted to... isn't there something you should be saying too?" He asked.
" Me?" Ajabdeh looked taken aback.
" Yes, you." Kunwar Pratap folded his arms to his chest, as if waiting, with furrowed brows.
" Umm... Ranima called me..." She stood up to leave.
" She can wait a minute more." Say... come on, Ajabdeh. Say it. I said so much. Can't you? Ajabdeh knew her husband would not let her go until he heard what he wanted to.
" I... I..." She stammered as she turned to face him. He nodded, anticipatingly, " I like you, Kunwar Pratap!" She hid her face with her hands as she spoke, and Kunwar Pratap laughed, taking her hands in his. Then he pulled her closer as she blushed, and just where her maagtika ended, he pressed his lips against her warm forehead as she felt his breath on her forehead. She blushed, hiding in his embrace. Then moved back, frowning.
" You are all wet, go change before you fall ill." He smiled, watching her leave in a hurry.
 
She was in Ranima's chamber, checking the gifts for the groom's side, when he walked in. It was way past dinner, and she was still not in the room, so he gathered she was there.
" Ranima, do you have any work I can do?" He stole a glance at Ajabdeh, who didn't look back as she checked a list.
" No, Pratap." Jaivanta smiled. " Ajabdeh..." She eyed her son's glance at his wife, amused, aware that Ajabdeh did not notice it, lost in her work.
" Bhabisa." Padma interrupted, as Ajabdeh smiled at her. "What is it, Rajkumarisa?"
" Padmavati." She corrected. " Bhabisa, I need to talk to you." Jaivanta Bai walked away to check on the welcome arrangements for the groom as Kunwar Pratap stood watching the duo.
" What is it?" Ajabdeh abandoned her list as she dismissed her husband's presence and walked up to her sister-in-law.
" I am so nervous, can you stay with me in my room tonight, you know we can talk..." Padma bit her lips, unsurely. Ajabdeh smiled with a nod.
" What? Why?" Kunwar Pratap frowned, interrupting, making Ajabdeh stare at him with a disapproving glare, as Padmavati smiled.
" Ohho, Dadabhai, I need Bhabisa today..."
" It's all right, Padmavati. I will stay with you." She was reassured as Kunwar Pratap stared at her, shaking his head.
" Dhanyavaad Bhabisa." She hugged and dragged Ajabdeh by the hand away to her room.
 
Kunwar Pratap was placing the pillows, sulking to himself. He wished they could continue the conversation; he could tease something else out of Ajabdeh, like praises for him, or more of what she felt.
" Why is Padmavati nervous two days before the wedding? And what can Ajabdeh do about it?" He spoke to himself.
" Dadabhai!" He turned to see Shakti smirking at him.
" What is it?" he frowned at his brother's untimely visit.
" Bhabisa sent me to sleep with you. " He said, putting his pillow on Kunwar Pratap's side, shifting Kunwar Pratap's pillows to Ajabdeh's.
" What? She..." She is trying to stop me from trying to meet her when Padma is asleep. He smiled.
" Subhratri Dadabhai, with me!" Shakti smirked as a pillow hit him on his face, and the brothers were engaged in a pillow fight.
 
" I am so nervous, new people, new place, I have known Kunwarsa since childhood, but is that enough?" Padmavati was anxious. Ajabde held her cold hands reassuringly.
" Trust me, when I came here, I knew no one, not even Kunwarsa." Ajabdeh smiled faintly. " But with time, now this is my home, my family."
" Dadabhai cares a lot for you." Padmavati smiled. " I should apologise for bringing you here. I didn't give you a choice..."
" Padmavati, even if you gave me a choice, I would have liked to have this conversation with you." She reassured the nervous bride.
" Tell me, Bhabisa, did he ever tell you he... likes you or anything?" She seemed excited.
" No, some things don't need to be told to understand." Ajabdeh was the same age as her, yet so much matured in the last few months.
" I wish ..." Padmavati stopped, embarrassed at her thought about her would-be groom as Ajabdeh smiled, hugging her.
 
You must be having a fun time with Padma while I am stuck here with the kicking horse. Kunwar Pratap frowned at his sleeping brother, dodging yet another attack. We didn't even read together today, now you will be busy till the wedding. When can we talk again, Ajabdeh?
Ajabdeh stayed awake as a nervous Padmavati talked, both lost in their thoughts.

I know you wanted to talk some more, Kunwar Pratap, but first, we have a sister to marry off here. Like you said, our family and people come before us always, until then wait for me.
I can wait an eternity for you, Ajabdeh Punwar.